Cotter pin



March l5, 1932. LE GRAND G. wHlTLocK 1,849,605

COTTER PIN Filed Feb. 2. 1931 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 15, 1932 UNITEDSTATES Persang OFFICE LE GRAND G. WEITLOCK, or BEIDGEPOET', CONNECTICUT,ASsiGNoE To SAM SALMOND a SON,v E HANOVER, MASSACHUSETTS, A PARTNERSHIPCOTTER PIN Application med February 2, 1931.

shown. However, it will be understood that Y the invention is notlimited to the details disclosed but includes such modiiications andvariations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings: K

Fig.. 1 is a side elevational view showing the pin in normal orunapplied position;

Fig. 2 is a viewtaken at right angles to Fig. 1; v

Fig. 8 is an elevation of a bolt and castellated nut, partly broken awayand in section and showing my improved cotter pin par- 25 tiallyinserted;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the pin in locking position;

Fig. 5 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. v1 but showing the lower endportion of the pin on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring in detail tothe drawings, the pin, generally indicated at 10is preferably formed from half ground wire bent upon itself intermediateits. ends to form an eye portion 11 and arms 12 and 13 arranged withtheir iiat sides in opposed relation and further arranged in the planeof the eye. At its free end portion each of the arms. 12 and 13. is cutaway or notched as at 14 whereby the same is provided with a lockingshoulder 15 adjacent its end.

, In connection Ywith the notch 14 and shoulder 15 it is to be notedthat the outer edges of the shoulders 15 are within the plane defined bythe edges of the respective arms 12 and 13, the arms, and as a. matteroit' fact the entire pin, being formed of a length of wire notched orcut away to provide the shoulserial No. 512,764'. l

ders 15. From this it will be understood that it is not necessary to usedies or swedging tools in the formation of the shoulders and that thepins including the shoulders may be easily and quickly manufactured inquantities.

As most clearlyshown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6 the arms 12 and 13 of the pinare bowed or oli-set in opposite directions as at 16 for substantiallytheir entire length. Itis to be particularly noted that the bowedportions 16 of the arms, extend from the eye 11 to approxi mately theupper or inner ends of the notches 14, are otlset outof or at rightangles to the plane of the eye 11. This is advantageous particularlywhen applying the pin to a castellated nut or the like as will laterappear. l

Figs. 3 and 4 show a bolt 17 having an opening 18 therethrough and showa castellated nut 19 mounted on the bolt and hav-` ing radial slots oropenings 20 as is usual. In

Fig. 3 my improved pin is shown in the ini 4 tial position occupied byit when inserted into one of the slots 2O of the nut 19 and the opening18 through the bolt 17. From this and the other ligures it will beapparent that the lower or free end portions of the arms 12 and 13arenormally disposed in side by side or overlapping or registeringrelationship.

At their free ends the arms 12 and 13 are somewhat reduced or rounded asat 21 and being in overlapping or side by side relationship a somewhatpointed cotter pin is provided. That is, the pin is somewhat pointed andthe free ends of its arms are in registry when the pin is in normal orunapplied position. Therefore since the arms are not bowed at theirlower end portions the pin may be readily inserted into its initialposition as shown in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 4 the pin is shown in fully applied position. Owing to thebowing of the arms 12 and 13 as at 16 it is necessary to force the pin10 inwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4.This is true since the outer edges ot the arms 12 and 13.I that is theouter edges of the bowed portions 16 of tie arms will engage against thesides of the hole 18 and slots 2O and the arms will be forced towardeach other with the result that their ends will be spread apart as shownin Fig. 4.

Such action will dispose the shoulders 15 of the arm beyond the edges ofthe slots 2O occupied by the pin and thereby prevent casual displacementof the pin. Of course, the arms themselves frictionally engage the wallsof the hole 18 and will, therefore, assist in maintaining the pin inplace.

It will be noted that since the arms are bowed over a considerableportion of their length, approximately fifty per cent of their length,the bow is gradual and it will not therefore be diiiicult to insert thepin. A steady pressure is applied as by means of a pair of pliers or thelike. In this connection it is to be noted that the flat sides of thearms overlap throughout the length of the arms thereby there is nodanger of the edge portion of one arm catching against the edge portionof the other to prevent successful operation or insertion of the pin.

Further, the eye 11 being at right angles to the bowed portions of thearms, or the arms being bowed out of the plane of the eye, the pin maybe so applied as to dispose the eye within one of the slots 2O of acastellat-ed nut for example. That is, the eye need not be disposedentirely beyond the edge of the nut but may be so disposed that the pinprojects only at its shouldered ends whereby to lock the nut to thebolt. Also, the pin might be arranged to project but ashort distance ateach of its ends.

Additionally, since it is the engagement of the bowed portions of thearms with the side walls of a slot or opening or the like that bringsabout a spreading of the free ends of the pin, the pin may be describedas selflocking. In this connection, it will be noted that there is nooccasion for the operator spreading the ends of the pin into lockingposition as by means of a screw driver or the like. it being understoodthat the simple act of inserting the pin through the opening spreads theend of the pin whereby to dispose the same in locking position. Itshould also be noted that the spreading of the ends of the pin is not aspring action but owing to the fact that the arms are bowed in oppositedirections the bowed portions are forced toward each other with theresult that their ends move across one another in opposite directions.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A self locking Cotter pin formed of a length of half round wire bentupon itself to form a head and a pair of arms having their fiat sidesfacing each other, said arms bowed for a considerable portion of theirlength in the plane of their flat sides and out of the plane of the headbut with their fiat sides remaining in over-lapping relationship, saidarms notched in their respective outer edges adjacent their free endsbut within the line defining their outer edge, said arms having theirfree ends rounded and having their free end portions in overlapping andregistering relationship, and said free end portions adapted to slideone on the other into spread relationship on engagement of the bowedportions of the arms with the inner walls of an opening on insertion ofthe pin into an opening of less diameter than the distance between theouter edges of the bowed portions of the arms.

2. A self locking cotter pin formed of a length of half round wire bentupon itself to provide a head and a pair of arms having their fiat sidesdisposed one against the other, said arms bowed for a considerableportion of their length in the plane of their flat sides and out of theplane of the head, said arms notched in their respective outer edgesadjacent their free ends to provide shoulders, said arms having theirfree ends rounded and having their free end portions in overlapping andregistering relationship, and said free end portions adapted to slideone on the other into spread relationship on engagement of the bowedportions of the arms with the inner walls of an opening on insertion ofthe pin into an opening of less diameter than the distance between theouter edges of the bowed portions of the arms.

3. A self locking Cotter pin formed from a length of half round wirebent upon itself intermediate its ends to form a head and a pair of armsarranged with their fiat sides in engagement, said arms notched on theirrespective outer edges adjacent their free ends to provide lockingshoulders, said arms bowed in opposite directions for a considerableportion of their length intermediate the head and their free endportions and in directions out of the plane of the head, and the outeredges of the bowed portions adapted to engage the walls of an openingwhen the pin is inserted into an opening whereby to slide the endportions of the arms one upon the other to spread them apart and disposethe shoulders beyond the edges of the opening.

4. A self locking Cotter pin formed from a length of wire bent uponitself to provide a head and a pair of arms, said arms notched in theirrespective outer edges adjacent their free ends but within the linedeiining their outer edges whereby to provide a shoulder within saidline, said arms having their free end portions arranged in registeringoverlapping relationship and having their portions intermediate the headand said free end portions bowed in opposite directions, and said bowedportions of the arms adapted on insertion of the pin into an opening toengage the side walls of the opening and be forced toward each otherwhereby their free end portions will be slid one across the other todispose the shoulders beyond the edges of the opening.

5. A self looking cotter pin formed from a length of Wire bent uponitself to provide a head and a pair of arms, shoulders on said armsadjacent their free ends, said arms having their free end portions inregistering overlapping relationship Whereby the pin may be easilyinserted into an opening, and means whereby on the insertion of the pininto an opening the arms Will slide one on the other and their free endportions spread apart to dispose the shoulders beyond the edges of theopening.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield, and State ofConnecticut, this 31st day of January, A. D., 1931.

LE GRAND G. WHITLOCK.

